Articles

This week the Environmental Protection Agency announced its intention to begin the process of repealing and replacing the Clean Water Rule of 2015. This is deeply troubling to us at American Whitewater. We invested considerable capacity in the development of this rule that reflected the input of the whitewater boating community. The Clean Water Rule clarified protections for headwater streams where the majority of whitewater recreation takes place. Healthy headwater areas are not only important for recreation, clean drinking water

Maryland's mighty Upper Yough had releases on July 1 and 3 on this very popular holiday weekend. It's a good time to remember American Whitewater's volunteers, especially Don Millard (Picture above), who mows the grass at both Sang Run and Friendsville. Without his work we would certainly be facing mandatory fees at both sites! AW provides a portable toilet and gravel, and needs your donations to pay for this. For those who've already donated, thank you! For the rest of us,

American Whitewater has been working with the US Forest Service (FS) and a diverse range of regional groups for the past 3 years to develop a new management plan for the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests in Western North Carolina. The Agency has been very transparent and open to ideas. Many of the public’s ideas are reflected in a new suite of documents called building blocks that capture the agency’s current thinking on what the new plan might look like.

Our Stewardship work is possible only through your support, and your financial contribution plays a vital role in protecting and restoring the special rivers that you love. We are a lean and efficient organization-85 cents of every dollar goes directly to our river stewardship work. With your support, we will lean forward and meet the challenges ahead.  Twice each year, we reach out to you to ask that you become a member or renew your membership to American Whitewater, or to consider making a tax-deductible

American Whitewater wants to raise its paddles to recognize Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society President Ryan Galway as its Volunteer of the Month. Ryan has been an essential volunteer for AW in the northeast, taking a leadership role in efforts to restore flows and improve recreation at hydro dams and working to preserve threatened rivers. Most recently, Ryan was the lead AW volunteer coordinating the whitewater boating study on the Little Androscoggin River in Auburn, ME, where a hydro dam

Next step in process essential for river and Spokane community Issue:  When water is flowing in the Spokane River during hot summer months, should the River’s water be protected for community recreational and aesthetic use and river fish and wildlife — or should it be available to be taken from the River by the State Dept of Ecology through the granting of water rights? State court: Thurston County Superior Court, Hon. James Dixon, Judge. Where: Thurston County Courthouse, 2000 Lakeridge

On May 5th, 2017, the Department of the Interior announced that it would be reviewing millions of acres of public land protected as National Monuments under a piece of legislation called the Antiquities Act. All National Monuments are at risk, but the Department of the Interior has specifically identified public lands in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Maine for review. One of these areas is the Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument located in

The State of West Virginia today chose to pass on a major economic and environmental opportunity by issuing a water quality certificate for the Hawks Nest Hydroelectric Project that lacks vital restoration of flows to the New River Dries. The certification outlines certain mandatory conditions that must be adopted by Federal regulators for the forthcoming 30 to 50 year license. The certification requires the dam owner to release flows suitable for kayaking and rafting on an average of only 3

  On May 5th, 2017, the Department of the Interior announced that it would be reviewing millions of acres of public land protected as National Monuments under a piece of legislation called the Antiquities Act. All National Monuments are at risk, but the Department of the Interior has specifically identified public lands in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Maine for review. One of these areas is the Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument

Palisade, Colorado – Coordinated releases from a series of reservoirs in the Upper Colorado River Basin have been sheduled to provide peak run-off in early June. Coordinated reservoir operations begin earlier this month as part of an ongoing effort to support endangered fish in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Flows at in the Colorado River near Cameo (Big Sur) are anticipated to be approximately 14,000 – 17,000 cfs from June 7th through June 12th, with the highest flows on Thursday or

American Whitewater and Clif are pleased to announce the Clif Flowing Rivers Campaign, pledging $2,500 to American Whitewater Affiliate Clubs for river stewardship work. Funding for this program is provided by the Clif partnership with American Whitewater. Clubs have the opportunity to apply for one of two $1,250 grants.    Grants will be distributed to clubs for projects that promote river stewardship, conservation, access and/or safety on rivers in the United States. All submissions must be received by July 15th,

A healthy, vibrant, participatory and functional Board of Directors is critical to the long term stability and effective governance of American Whitewater. This requires Directors with a passion for our mission and a mix of appropriate skills to help guide AW and meet the challenges we face, both now and in the future.   In 2017 we have one Director seat being vacated and are searching for a candidate that represents the inter-mountain west, and Colorado specifically.   Serving on

Congress is currently considering several pieces of hydropower legislation that, in our analysis, would likely negatively impact rivers if passed in their current form. In early May, the House Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing on legislation addressing hydropower infrastructure modernization that included Discussion Drafts of bills relating to modernizing hydropower policy. In our reading of the Discussion Drafts, they would undermine the existing balance balance between hydropower and all other river values, including recreation. Many of these bills propose

Spring is in the air and as another great paddling season comes into focus, we hope that you'll consider making a contribution to American Whitewater on GiveBig Day – Wednesday, May 10. GiveBIG is a one day event through the Seattle Foundation that makes your donation to American Whitewater go further.    “¨   It's a great way to support our efforts which are exclusively focused on conserving and restoring whitewater rivers. Protecting free-flowing rivers, restoring flows to impacted rivers

Paddlers planning on paddling the Dolores below Bedrock (Bedrock to Gateway stretch) between May 9 – May 19 need to be aware of intermittent river closures at the new Bedrock Bridge at Colorado Highway (CO) 90. CDOT and SEMA Construction will begin lifting large precast members for the bridge beginning Tuesday, May 9. River users will encounter intermittent half hour river closures at this location just north (downstream) of the Bedrock boat ramp, while large pieces of concrete are suspended